Protector for the edges of book-covers



(No Model.)

A. L} CLARK.

. PROTECTOR FOR THE EDGES 0F BOOK COVERS.

No. 266,098. Patented Oct. 17, 1882 UNlTED States PATENT FFKCE.

ALFRED L. CLARK, on DUBUQUE, IOWA.

PROTECTOR FOR THE EDGES OF BOOK-COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,098, dated October 17, 1882.

Application filed December 16, 1881.

To all whom it may concern 3e it known that I, ALFRED L. CLARK, of the city and county of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Iniproveinent in Protectors for the Edges ofBook- (lovers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object I have in view is to produce a protection for the edges or borders of bookcovers, more especially large blank-book covers, from wear and warping, that will be substantial and at the same time easily applied to the book already finished, or made a part of the cover when construced, and, further, a protector for the corners and outer surfaces of the covers; and to the accomplishmentof the above ends the invention consists in applying to the edges of book-covers metal plates having secured to them wedge-shape metal blades.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a bookcover provided with my improved protector; Fig. 2, a view of protector adapted to be applied to edge of book, detached; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the same; Fig. 4.. a view ot'a modification of protector; and Fig. 5 a view ot'protector adapted to be applied to the bookcorners, detached.

Like letters represent like parts in all the figures.

The protectors are preferably constructed of the following materials and applied in the following manner: I use a strip or plate of brass or white-metal about one-fourth of an inch in thickness and of the length and width of the edge of the cover to which it is'to be applied. This strip A is rolled out with its outer surface convex and its inner surface concave, having the edges of the inner surface quite thin. The object of making the inner surface concave and with sharp edges is that it may fit more closely the edge of the cover, and to prevent the leather or binding from becoming loose and drawing out from under the protector. Along the middle of the concave surface of the plate A, I attach the steel blade 11, which blade I) is made of steel of about three-fourths of an inch in width, and in length about an inch shorter than the plate A when the plate is to be applied to the (No model.)

front ed go of the book-cover, but about a halfinch shorter when the plate is to be applied to the ends of the cover. The outer edge of this blade I) is ground quite sharp, making the sectional view ofthe blade of wedge shape. There are also several holes drilled through the blade 1) near its outer or sharp edge, the reason of all which will appear fully hereinafter. The blade I), attached to the strip used for the front edge of the cover, is beveled at both ends, making the blade about a halt-inch shorter on its sharp edge than where it is attached to the strip A. When-this blade is attached to the end plate, then only one end ofit is beveled, and the other end used nearest to the back of the book is left square. The object of beveling these blades is to keep them from interfering with each other at the corners of the cover when they are forced into the edges of the cover, and, further, not to allow the blades to injure the corners of the cover when the plates are applied to finished covers. This blade b may be made by simply attaching teeth like the teeth of a sawv at intervals along the concave surface of the plate A, as shown in Fig. 4. 1f teeth are used, holes should be drilled in or near the points of the teeth for the same purpose of the holes in the blade, spoken of hereinbefore.

The plate 0 for protecting the outer surface of the cover andv corners of the cover I preferably make of brass, white-metal, or ebony, and cut them from thin plates in the shape of a right-angle triangle, with the hypotenuse of from three to five inches in length. I also perforate this plate 0 with two or three holes, (I, for the purpose of fastening it to the cover of the book. The plate 0 may be made in any shape and ornamented.

The manner of applying and using my invention is as follows: Taking the book-cover to which 1 apply my invention, if it be a finished book-cover, I cut a slit of about onefourth of an inch in depth along the middle of the edge of the book-cover, commencing at about a half-inch from one front corner and ending at about a half-inch from the opposite corner. The slit I intend to have just the length of the blade b. If teeth are used in the place of the blade I), then this slit is not necessary. Into this slit the blade b is forced till the plate A, to which it is attached, bears firmly against the edge of the cover. I then put pins or fasteners E of some kind through the cover and through the holes in the blade I). The heads of these pins I have slightly raised above the surface of the cover as a protection to the sides of the covers. If I construct the cover with the protector forming a part of the cover, then the blade I) may be made serrated and bound in with and between the pasteboards forming the cover without cutting out any of the pasteboard, and the bladeb need not be sharp.

To apply the plate 0 to the cover when completed, I cut off a portion of the surface of the corner of the cover of the shape of the plate (J, but not as deep as the thickness of the plate 0. I then rivet the plate 0 firmly upon this corner, having the right angle of the plate G just touching the corner of the cover and the protectors of the edges. This plate 0 is left flush with the surface of the cover in order that the wear of the book may be upon this plate 0 and the rivets E.

The advantages of my invention are, first, it aiifords a sure protection to the edges and outer sides of the cover; second, the protector can be applied to finished book-covers; third, they prevent the cover from warping, and, fourth, where they are made with the cover 110 special construction of the cover is needed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and for which I desire Letters Patent, is-- 1. A protector for the edges of book-covers, consisting of a metal plate, to the concave surface of which is attached a metal blade, said blade being wedge shape, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a book-cover protector-consisting of a metal plate and a wedgeshape metal blade attached thereto, a series of pins, said pins passing through the metal blade and having their heads extending above the level of the book-cover, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a book-cover, the protectingplate A, with blade I) attached to its concave surface, and of wedge shape, and the pins E for holding said plate firmly against the edge of the book-cover, having their heads slightly raised above the outer surface of the cover, substantially as and for the purposes shown.

This specification signed and witnessed this 16th day of June, A. I). 1881.

ALFRED L. CLARK.

IVitnesses:

JOHN L. BUE r'rELL, MONROE M. UADY. 

